Casual dining chain California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPKI), opened its 10th full-service restaurant in Mexico. CPK franchise partner Grupo Calpik, S.A.P.I. de C.V. operates the new location, which is the chain's third in Naucalpan de Juárez, a northwest suburb of Mexico City.

For its fiscal year ending Dec. 29, 2011, Denny's announced same-store sales decreased 3.6 percent at company units and 3.7 percent at franchised units. For the year, same-store guest counts decreased 1.9 percent at company units, although the last six months of the year increased 1.1 percent.

Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Desert Island Restaurants started a nationwide franchising push for its Ling & Louie's Asian Bar & Grill restaurant concept. To kick off this push, Desert Island inked franchise agreements for the Anchorage, Alaska, and Boise, Idaho markets. Restaurants in these markets are expected to open later this summer. Other markets containing franchised Ling & Louie's restaurants include Denver and Phoenix.